Shock absorber



Aug. 11. 1931.

J. A. DIENNER snocx ABSORBER Filed Dec. 27-, 19 27 :5 sheets-sheet 1Aug. 11, 1931.

J. A. DIENNER:

snocx ABSORBER Filed Dec. 27, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ltllilfllllllvlll mMW 8% Aug. 11, 1931. J. A. DIENNER- SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Dec. 27, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIc E I.

JOHN A. DIENNER, 0F EVANS'ION, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR Tosrnomnnnennsnnncnoon- I PORATION, or CHICAGO, IL'LIivoIs. ACOB-PORATIONor ILLINOIS.

SHOCK ABSORBER Application filed December 27, 1927. Serial-110,242,784.I

My invention relates to spring rebound controllers for vehicles, and thelike, generally and incorrectly termed shock absorbers.

While the invention is shown as applied to a controller of theproportional resistance type, thatis, the type first disclosed in VeitchPatent No. 907 ,427, it is not intended tobe limited thereto. r

In the development of a spring rebound controller of the proportionalresistance type it has been found desirable to enclose the rev trievingspring in a housing .sealed during the life of the device, the housingretaining a lubricant and excluding water and dirt. When the device isapplied to the vehicle it is desirable to have an adjustment of thetension of the retrieving spring to adapt it to the particular needs ofthe vehicle. Where the device is adjusted and sealed up when it leavesthe factory, the individual adjustment of the spring tension to thevehicle is not readily made becausejin. the devices with which I amfamiliar some form of key mem-v ber normally holds the spring againstexpansion, and the Workman must hold the spring tension With a wrench,or the like, While the key is being removed and again applied. This isinconvenient and unsatisfactory, for if the spring should escape fromthe Wrench it is a difiicult and tedious job to wind it up again.

The adjustment of the spring required for a given vehicle may be eitherincrease or decrease of the tension of the retrieving spring. I 1

According to the present invention I provide a Geneva gear and pinion toadjust the tension of the retrieving spring. Bythis means the spring maybe tightened up or loosened without jlOSlIlg control of the same at anytime. No loosening of any-key'or ratchet is necessary and yet adjustmentcan be made at a relatively great mechanical advantage because of theratio of diameter of the Geneva pinion andits' cooperating gear.Preferably because of operating character is'tics the spring is of thespiral clock spring type and it has its outer end connected, to thefriction shoe or pull'strap, and its inner end connected to. the drum orframe.- The Geneva gear and pinion may be disposed se. rially in eitherof these connections, that is, between the outer end of the spring andthe friction shoe or between the inner end of the spring and the. frame.Other and incidental improvements will be apparent from the followingdetailed specification and claims. 1

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner ofconstructing'and operating adevice embodying my invention, I shalldescribe in connection with the accompanying drawings a specificembodiment of the same. 1

In the drawings: f Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the reboundcontroller applied to the'frame and axle of a vehicle having the usualvehicle spring; I Fig. 2 is an elevational View of the mechanism insidethe outer cover taken on the line 2-2ofFig.5;

. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a locking key; r Fig. 4 isa vertical sectiontaken'onthe line 4-4.-of Fig.5;- Y I Fig. 5 is a longitudinal verticalsection taken on the line 5+5 of Fig. '2;

-Fig. 6 is a similar verticallongitudinal section of a modified form;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary face View; and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectionalview of another modification. As shown in Fig. 1, theIcontrolle-r l ismounted. on ithe'fram'e 2 of the vehicle, the strap 3 of the controllerbeing connectedto the axle' l, and said axle and frame beingconnectedjby the usual vehicle spring 5. Obviously, the controller 1may'bemounted on' the axle and a strap connected to the frame, ifdesired, but it is preferable 1 to put the controller on the frame. Thecontroller 1 has aframe comprising the back plate 6, the drum and endplate designated by reference numeral 7 as a-w'hole, the spring anchor8, and the stud 9. e

The plate 6 is providedwith an upturned flange 10 to Which-thereisvsecured, or within which there is received theouter cover member 11to protect the "controller as much as possible from the'e'ntry of dirt.The plate 6 is provided with bosses 12, 12 which rest against the frame2 to support the same. The plate 6 also contains sockets for receivingthe heads of bolts 13, one of which is shown in Fig. 5. The drum member7 has a head or plate portion 14 which is spot welded to the plate 6andis also secured-thereto by means of the riveted end 15 of the stud 9.This stud has its sides slabbed off to provide shoulders and to providefor, keying the stud to the frame, this slabbed ofi' end fitting in anoblong hole in the head 14 of the drum member 7 and also in the backplate 6.

The spring anchor, 8 is in the form of a cup, the bottom of which isalso clamped under the shoulder formed on the inner end of the-stud 9,the anchor 8 being slotted at 16'to receive the inner anchor end of thespring, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The spring 17 has a hook whichslides into the slot 16 so as to hold the spring in place. i The outerend of the spring 17 is provided with a hook 18 which engages the end ofan arm 19. r The arm 19 has a hub portion 20 which is rigidly connectedto a bearing sleeve 21 which bears upon'the stud or pin 9. Y The drummember has a cylindrical bearing portion 22 on which there is supporteda friction band or shoe 23. This friction band or shoe 23 is guidededgewise betweena flange 24 and the back plate 6. The band or shoe23 isconnectedby means of a connecting or an choring clip 25 to the outer end26 of an arm 27 Both arms 19 and 27 are L-shaped. The arm 27 is providedwith a hub member 28 of substantially the same size as the hub member20of the inner arm, but instead of bearing directly on'the bearing sleeve21 the hub 28 of the arm 27 bears on a cylindrical shoulder 29, which ispreferably "the periphery*of-a'brass plate". The brass plate and aspacing plate are clamped between the hub 20 and the Geneva gear 31, asby means of. rivets 32. 1

The; spacing plate 30 extends peripherally beyond the brass plate 29' sothat the hub 28 of the outer arm 27 is held between said spacing plate30 and the Geneva gear The outer arm member 27 carries the Geneva pinion32, which is provided with a polygo'n'alsocket 33 for-the insertion of aT wrench. 'Obviously, instead 'of having a square opening, as shown, theopening could be hexagonal if desired. The Geneva pinion 32 is providedwith a collar which extends through an opening in the arm 27 and isbeaded over,-asindicated at 34 in Fig. 5.

The drum member 7 is closed at the end opposite the plate 14 by a plate36, which portion 22 and, in addition, is provided with prongs or ears38 which are extended through the plate 14 of the drum member 7 andthrough the back plate 6 and then riveted over, as indicated in Fig. 5.

Since the two arms and the sleeve 21 rotate together inthe normaloperation of the device, a tight bearing is to be-maintained betweensaid cover plate 36 through which the connection may extend between theinner arm and the outer arm. This tight joint is secured by having thespacing plate 30 fit closely within the opening formed in the coverplate 36, and in having fiber washers 40 and 41 disposed between themargins of the plate 36 and the hubs 20 and 28. In this way a tightjoint is'made between the cover plate and the rocking-or rotatingsystem, including the two arms 19 and 27. I

The outer end of the stud 9 is slabbed off as by amilling cutter, andthe cylindrical surfaces are threaded to receive the cap nut 42. Thecover member 11 has an oblong opening'fitting over the threaded portion43, and the cover member is adapted to be clamped in place by said capnut 42. The cover 11 is provided with an opening 44 which is adapted tobe closed by an extension 45 on'the lock Washer 46. A circular plate '47has an oblong opening fitting over the threaded portion 43 of the stud 9and anchored against turning thereupon. This plate 47 has a series ofholes 48 therethrough adapted to register with the hole 44 in the covermember 11 and'to register with holes 49 formed in the Geneva gear 31. Apin may be inserted in thesepartsj through the holes 44,48and 49 toholdthe'spring under tension when the device is shipped from themanufacturer. j

The anchor clip 25, which is secured to th friction band or shoe 23, hasa lug or ear 53 lying on the front side of the arm 26, and the pullstrap 3 has a hook member 54 provided with a nose 55 which extendsthrough the opening out of which the lug or ear 53 has been struck fromthe clip 25.

This nose 55 extends down into an opening 56 formed in the free endofthe shoe or band 23 to hold the free end loosely in place uponthe drum.The clip 25 has an extending portion 57 circumferentially enclosing thefree end of the band 23. The clip 25 is secured to the-band by riveting.Likewise, the hook member 54 is connected to'th'e strap 3 by suitablerivets. i g

It will be seen that the tension of the spring 17 is in a direction tokeep the arm 26 always in contact with the ear 53 and it tends to keepthe hook 54 in contact with the ear 53 so long as the spring 17 is undertension.

The operation of the-device described is as follows:

- As the main g i vehicle spring 5 is compressed by approach of the axle4 to the frame 2, the take-up spring 17 which is under tension, wrapsthe pull strap 3 upon the periphery of the drum member 7 to a degreedepending upon the deflection of the spring 5. a The pull strap 3 isactually wrapped upon the outer surface of the band 23, but the band 23is merely a friction shoe to save wear upon the pull strap. Thisfriction band 2 3 may be of any suitable characteristic such, forinstance, as brake lining material or a combination of rubber andcanvas, or rubber and asbestos, with graphite or like insert, thisfeature formingno part of the present invention. V p

Upon recoil of the spring 5, the frame 2 with the body thereupon isthrown upwardly, but a resistance is interposed to such throw in amountcorresponding to the spring deflection. This is apparent from the factthat the greater the deflectionthe greateris the amount ofcircumferential engagement between the pull strap 3 and the drum uponwhich it is wound, c 7

When the device is shipped from the factory a metal pin (not shown) isinserted through the holes 44, 48 and 49 to lock the spring under normaltension, and upon mounting the device on the frame and securing thestrap 3 to the axle the pin may be re I moved and the hole in the coverplate 11 covered by the extension 45 on thelock washer 46.

If it should be desired to change the spring tension to adapt theparticular device to the particular needs of the vehicle, the covermember 11 is first removed by loosening the cap nut 42, whereupon asuitable wrench is inserted in the opening 33 of thepinion 32 and'thepinion is turned either to the left or to the right, as may be desired,to increase or decrease the tension ofthe spring 17. It will be seenthat in this form of the invention the Geneva gear and'pinion isconnected in series between the inner arm and the outer arm, and that itsustains the entire spring tension at all times. Since this tensionalways works in the same direction, there is no tendency for the partsto'become loose and rattle; .Due to the relatively greatratio ofdiameters, the adjustment of the spring s made with exceptional ease andfacility and control of the spring tension is never lost, because theonly way that the Geneva gear 31 can move angularly is to have thepinion 32 rotate. The connection is irreversible, that is to say,pressure by the gear 31 on the pinion 32 will not produce'rotation, butwill always maintain a locked connection.

If desired, the stud 9 and thelever 27 may be locked by means'of a key,such as shown in Fig. 3, where the oblong opening 58 fits over the plateportion43 of the stud 9, and

the lateral. extension 59 of the key member 60 is inserted in theopening 33 in the pinion 32 so that rotation is, prevented duringshipment.

If desired, the device may be shipped without being placed underspringtension, since it is so easy by means of the Geneva gear and pinionmechanism to wind up the spring to the desired extent.

Obviously, instead'of an external gear pinion, an internal gear andpinion might be employed, as will be described later in connection withFigs. 7 and 8.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 the cover member 11 is held to the backplate 6 by catches 61 stamped out of the metal of thecorrespondingflanges. a

In this form the back plate 6 is spot welded to the cooperating plate14, whichis the head of the drum member 7. A pocket 62 is formed betweenthe back plate 6 and the. head 14 of the drum member 7, and in thispocketis mounted a stationary bearing63 preferably made of bronze, orthelike, said bearing having a head seated in a correspondingpolygonaldepression in the back plate 13 and having a tubular neck 64 extendingthrough an opening'in the drum head 14. A rotatable shaft 65 has areduced cylindrical portion 66 which fits within the correspondingrecess in said bearingmember 63. Adjacent the reduced cylindricalbearing portion '66 is a squared portion 67 which is embraced by the hub68 of the inner L-shaped arm 69. Said arm 69 has an extension 70 towhich a hooked part 18'0f the spring 17 is connected. The inner end ofthe spring 17 is connected by its hooked end in a slot 71 inthe bearingsleeve 72. This bearing sleeve has an enlarged head portion 7 3whichforms a Geneva gear cooperating with the Geneva pinion 74 mountedin the cover plate 36.

This cover plate 36 has the cylindrical por tion 37 with a, press fitinside the cylindrical portion 22 of the drum member 7 and se cured totheback plate 6 by means of the riveted lugs 38, as previouslydescribed. I

The bearing sleeve 72 with .its connected I flange may be made of sheetmetal with a suitable bearing or liner, if so desired, or it may be madeof bronze, or other suitable anti-friction bearing metal. Its peripheraledge, that is, the edge of the flange 73 is cut or otherwise formed toproduce the Geneva gear as shown at 31 in Fig. 2. The Geneva pinion 74is provided with a rectangular recess 33 in which a wrenchmay'bein'serted, as previously described. In this case the inner end ofsaid recess 33 is closed so as to maintain the tightness of thehousingformed by the drum member 7 on'the cover member 36. The outer end of theshaft 65 is squared, as indicated .at 7 5, to receive the hub? 6 of theouter arm 27 'The hub of the arm is held on the shaft by means of a capscrew 7 7 which threads into the end of the shaft and is pre-, ventedfrom becoming loose by means of a suitable spring washer, or the like;It Will be observed that, the arm 27 clears boththe Geneva gear 7 3and'the pinion 7 4. The flange of the sleeve 72 has a shoulder at 78which rests peripherally against the edges of the opening in the coverplate 36. A pair of fiber washers l0 and 41 he upon the opposite marginsof the opening in the cover plate 86 and are held in assembled relationby means of an inner plate 79 which is preferably riveted or spot weldedto the adjacent portion of the flange 73. In this case the bearingsleeve 72 constitutes both a bearing for the shaft and a spring anchorfor the mner end of the spring 17. The two arms 27 and 69 lie in thesame plane so as to subject the bearings for the shaft 65 to as littlewear as'possible. Preferably fiber plates are laid between the edges ofthe spring and the adjacent parts to prevent catching of the springcoils upon any slight projection of these parts. I have not shown thefiber plates for the purpose of avoiding confusion in the drawings. Ihave shown,'however, the fiber plate 80' aslying between the outside ofthe inner arm 69 and the bottom or head wall 14 of the drum member 7. 7

When it is desired to change'the spring tension, it is necessary only toinsert a wrench through the opening 81 in the cover member 11, whereuponthe Geneva pinion 7 at may be turned in either direction and may tightenor release the spring tension, as may be desired.

The pull strap 3, friction hand 28, and the a hook 524 with'the anchor25 are preferably the same as shown in connection with Figs.

2, 1 and 5.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8,"I have shownthe sheet metal sleeve 82 with the hexagonal head member 83 integraltherewith, which is disclosed in the co-pending application of Milton E.Chandler, Serial No. 184,298, filed April 16, 1927, which'rests upon thestud 9 and provides a slot 16 for the inner hooked end of the spring 17.The cylindrical portion 84 adjacent the hexagonal head 83 forms abearing for the lever s stem'comprising the inner L-shaped' lever 19 andthe outer Lshaped lever 27, which are connected together through anintervening spacing block 30 and sealed to the cover plate 86 throughthe fiber washers .lO-and etl. 'An anti-friction bushing 85 is mountedwithin the hubs of the arms 19 and 27 and bears upon said cylindricalhearing portion 84. A bushing 86 is inserted be tween the tubularbearing portion 84 and the stud 9 to secure a firm support upon saidstud.

The sleeve 82 is rotatable on said stud 9 to adjust the tension of thespring 17. I secure this adjustment by means of a plate 87 which has anoblong hole fitting over the flattened end 18 of the stud member 9 so asto be keyed thereto and having its outerends adapted to fit within theupturned flange 88 which forms the hexagonal head 83. A plate 89 havingits outer edge fitting within the inner periphery of the flange 88 formsan internal Geneva gear co-operating with the Geneva pinion 90, which ismounted in the key orplate 87. The pinion has an extending tubularcollar 91 which is beaded over the inner edge of the opening in theplate 87 so as to mount said pinion permanently in said plate. Arectangular opening 92 is formed through thepinion so that the same maybe engaged by a suitable rod or wrench for turning the same.

In the present modification, thatis, the modification of Figs. 7 and 8,the adjustment is made on the inner end of the spring, that is, at thespring anchor at the'inner end of the spring-by a sleeve member which,in this case, provides upon its exterior surface a bearing for the leversystem, whereas in the form shown in Fig. 6 the sleeve forms on'itsinner surface a bearing for the lever system.

A series of openings may be p fovided in register with the Geneva pinion90 and extending into the movable arm system to pin these parts togetherfor shipment.

It will be seen in each form that the Geneva gear and pinion areconnected serially in line with the retrieving spring, either at theouter end or at the inner end, so that they sustain at all times thespring tension. It'is desirable to mount the Geneva gear and pinion atthe inner end in order to decrease the weight of the moving piston. r

I do not intend to be limited to the details shown or described.

I claim 1. In a rebound controller, the combination of a relativelystationary drum, .a relatively movable shoe, a coil retrieving springconnected to said shoe, a spring anchor for holding one end of thespring, and means in the spring connection for'adjusting the tension ofthe spring comprising a 'Genevagear and a Geneva pinion.

2. In a rebound controller, the combina tion of a frame having astationary drum, a friction member playing on said drum, .a retrievingspring for said friction member, a connection between the outer end ofthe spring and the friction member, a connec-v tion between theinneriend of the spring and the frame, and a Geneva gear and pinionincluded serially in' one of said connections.

3. In a rebound controller, the combination of a frame having-astationary drum, a friction member playing on said drum, a retrievingspring disposedwithin the drum, a connection between. the outer end0f,-the spring and said member to move the member about the periphery ofsaid drum, said connection including a pair of overlapping L- shapedarms, a connection between the inner end of the spring and the frame,and a its Geneva gear and pinion included'serially in one of saidconnections.

I 4. In a rebound controller, the combination of a frame bearing astationary drum, a friction shoe movable aboutthe periphery thereof,said drum being closed to provide a tight spring housing, a retrievingspring in said housing, a connection between the outer end of the springand said shoe, saidconnection comprising an arm within the housing, anarm outside the housing, and a connecting member between the arms, saidhousing having a bearing for said connecting member providing a tightjoint, a connection between the inner end of the spring and the frame,and a Geneva gear and pinion included serially in one of saidconnections.

5. In a spring rebound controller, a cylindrical drum having closed endsand a closed periphery, a take-up spring in the drum, a

eneva gear and pinion for adjusting the tension of said spring, and amember having variable contact with the exterior periphery of said drumand connected to said spring.

6. In a spring rebound controller, a closed drum forming a springhousing, a rotatable member projecting through said housing, a springanchor in said drum, a spring having its ends connected to saidrotatablemember and anchor, respectively, means for adjusting the tension of saidspring comprising a Geneva gear and pinion, and a flexible memberfrictionally engaging the exterior periphery of said drum and having anend connected to said rotatable member-so as to rotate the latter.

7. In a rebound controller, a frame having a drum member connectedthereto, a station ary spring anchor connected to said frame inside thedrum, a spiral spring having its inner end connected to the spring,anchor, a pair of L-shaped arms, a cover member for the drum lyingbetween said arms, a flexible member slidable over the periphery of thedrum connected at one end to the outer arm, and a Geneva gear and pinionconnected between the arms for adjusting the spring tension.

8. Ina device of theclass described, the combination of a frame memberhaving a 7 I member having variable contact with the ex- Fwrapped to avariable'extent aroundfthe drum, an arm lying 'within 't'he drum andconnected to the outer end of the spring,'*an arm lying outside thedruni and connected at its outer end tothe pull'strap,-' said arms beingconnected together and having avbean ing surface in contact with thesleeve.

11 In a device of the class described, a

frame member comprising a drum, a stationary bearing at'the inner end ofthe drum, a cover for the drum, a sleeve member havlng,

a bearing in the cover for the drum and providing a spring anchor. aspring in the drum connected to said anchor. a shaft mounted in saidbearing and in said sleeve, an arm connected to the inner end of thespring and to the shaft, a pull strap adapted to be wrapped to avariable extent around the drum, and

an arm connecting the pull strap to the shaft.

12. In a device of the class described, a frame member comprising adrum, a stationary bearing at the inner endof the drum, a cover for thedrum, a sleeve member having a bearing in the cover for the drum andproviding a spring anchor, a spring in the drum connected to saidanchor, a shaft mounted inv said bearing and in said sleeve, an armconnected to the inner end of the spring and to.

the shaft, a pull strap adapted to be wrapped to a variable extentaround the drum, an arm connecting the pull strap to the shaft, andmeans for adjusting the tension of the spring, said means comprising aGeneva gear and pinion.

13. In a device of the class described, a

frame comprising a drum, a bearing within the drum, a spring anchorcomprising a sleeve-rotatably mounted in the cover for they drum, acover for said drum, a spring in the drum connected to said springanchor, a shaft mounted in the bearing and in said sleeve,ca strapadapted to be wrapped to a variable extent around the drum, and armsconnecting the shaft to the spring and to the pull strap, respectively.

14. In combination, a frame comprising a drum, a cover for the drum, abearing within the inner end of the drum on the frame, a c shaft mountedin the bearing, a sleeve r'otatably mounted in the cover and providing abearing for the shaft, a spring in the drum,

anchored at its inner end to the sleeve, a strap adapted to be wrappedto a variable extent about the periphery of the drum, means includingsaid shaft for connecting the outer end of the spring to the strap, andmeans ineluding a Geneva gear andpinion for changing the position of thesleeve to adjust the tension of the spring. V

15. In a device of the class described,a stationary frameincluding: adrum, a cover for the drum, a spring Within the drum, an

arm Within the drum connected to the outer end of the spring, an armoutside the drum, a pull strap adapted to be wrapped to a variableextent about the periphery of the drum, and means connecting the outerand the innerarms, said means including av Geneva gear and pinion.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day ofDecember, 1927.

JOHN A; DIENN ER."

